Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 87: Names, Part Sixteen

{Lianna}

The blinding light from the amulet’s detonation had barely faded when chaos erupted in the stadium.

Lianna’s eyes widened as a swarm of people descended upon the officials in the stands. Violence broke out seemingly in the blink of an eye. The once lively and cheering crowd now transformed into a chaotic sea of guards fighting random players who’d just shown up and started attacking people.

Enverna had carried out the plan perfectly, losing on purpose to get the spectators’ eyes off them, giving Zura a shielding potion, and then snatching the amulet before the attackers could react.

They’d guessed that the attackers would respond in some form or fashion after that, but neither of them had predicted a skirmish like this would happen.

The administrator, who had been standing beside Lianna moments ago, vanished in the turmoil. Fear clenched Lianna’s heart as she scanned the surroundings, trying to make sense of the situation.

[Wait, no!]

Hollie had reentered the field, rapier in hand, heading straight toward Enverna.

Lianna ran forward. Not being anywhere near as quick as the other girl, though, she quickly abandoned that idea and pulled her bow out, launching a couple of arrows in Hollie’s direction.

"Tsk!" Hollie clicked her tongue. "Fine. You want me to skewer you first? Gladly."

Swiftly, Hollie changed trajectories.

[Crap.]

Lianna flinched.

Enverna intercepted the other woman, though.

Shaken and recovering from the explosion, Enverna was on her feet, panting as she held her spear.

"Oh, you’re alright," Lianna whispered with a sigh of relief.

"Not quite," Enverna whispered back. "My left arm is broken."

Lianna looked and found it hanging limp.

"I have a couple of healing potions in my Inventory. Here."

Stealthily, Lianna slipped Enverna one flask. Hollie just watched as she drank it, a confident smirk on her face.

"Aw, how heartwarming. The married couple wants to die together."

"We are not married," Enverna corrected her. "We’re engaged!"

With that, the spear-user ran forward. She and Hollie began trading blows right in front of Lianna.

Before, Enverna had been quickly overwhelmed by this woman. Now, however, with Lianna there and their proximity buff active, the fight played out differently.

The clash of weapons echoed through the air, a symphony of steel meeting steel. Lianna watched, her bow drawn, waiting for any opportunity to influence the outcome.

Enverna moved with newfound precision, every strike calculated and aided by {Lover’s Intuition}.

"Slip under her next strike! Move to her left, she’s leaving it open!"

"Can you shut the fuck up already!?" Hollie yelled as Enverna followed her fiance’s instructions to the letter. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

As the combatants’s weapons continued to bounce off each other, Lianna’s focus intensified. She could feel the tension in the air, a palpable energy emanating from the ongoing skirmish and the chaos surrounding them.

[You’re doing great, Enverna. Keep it up,] Lianna thought, her eyes locked on the swirling clash.

Hollie taunted Enverna between strikes.

"You’re already slipping! Don’t you know? Playing hero can get you killed."

Enverna’s responses were concise, each word carrying the weight of her determination.

"I’m no hero. Just someone who will not allow you and your friends harm innocent people."

The exchange of blows continued, Enverna’s spear whirling through the air with a precision that left Hollie on the defensive. Lianna, utilizing her Lover’s Intuition, whispered advice to Enverna, guiding her through the intricate dance of blades.

"Slide to the left, now counter!" Lianna urged.

Enverna followed the guidance seamlessly. Her spear intercepted Hollie’s rapier, and a swift counter left Hollie momentarily exposed.

"Who’s slipping now?" Enverna remarked.

"You fool," Hollie hissed. "I’ll-"

A mace slammed down on her head.

[ZURA!]

The Paladin in question stumbled to the ground after delivering that blow. Blood trickled down from the top of Hollie’s head.

With a calculated strike, Enverna’s spear found its mark. Hollie grimaced as Storm pierced her abdomen, a coat of red liquid covering its blade in addition to water.

To her credit, she was still alive and still conscious.

Seeing the way Zura’s legs and arms gave out, it was clear she didn’t have all of her strength. But, she still did damage.

The pain was evident in Hollie’s eyes, but some arrogance still lingered.

"Is that all you’ve got?" Hollie scoffed, a defiant smirk on her face.

Enverna, undeterred, pressed on. Lianna continued to guide her, ensuring every move exploited Hollie’s vulnerabilities.

[We need to end this. People need help!]

As Enverna prepared for another strike, Hollie’s demeanor shifted. She smirked, and in a swift motion, produced a smoke bomb from her inventory.

"Enjoy your hollow victory, lovebirds!" Hollie declared before disappearing into the cover of smoke as she threw the item to the ground. "Not like it’s gonna change anything!"

The sudden escape left a sense of unease in the air.

Lianna lowered her bow, frustration evident in her eyes. Then, she went to help Zura.

"Are you okay?"

"I’m fine," Zura replied. "Get..." She coughed. "Get yourselves to safety."

"We can’t let her get away!" Enverna argued instead but Lianna stepped in front of her.

"We have to. The president is still the main target."

[Judging by the fact that I still haven’t gotten my "quest completed" message, she’s still in danger.]

Enverna, catching her breath, nodded in agreement, though she clearly wanted to keep chasing Hollie.

The chaos around them intensified, guards and players locked in combat. Lianna scanned the surroundings, her instincts on high alert.

"We need to find the president before they do. The chaos here is a diversion," Lianna stated, her voice firm. "Let’s go! She might need help!"

"... Right."

"Zura," Lianna said, giving her a healing potion. "Drink this and stay safe!"

With that out of the way, Lianna and Enverna ran out.

The chaos roared around them as Lianna took charge, leading Enverna through the chaotic battlefield. The stadium, once a haven for celebration, now echoed with the sounds of clashing weapons and cries for help. Lianna’s heart raced.

Through the confusion, they navigated the sprawling stadium.

Guards clashed with unidentified assailants, players engaged in skirmishes, and the once-controlled environment had spiraled into a battleground.

Enverna, her spear at the ready, followed closely. The lingering tension from the battle with Hollie still hung in the air, but the urgency of the situation propelled them forward.

As they moved through the turmoil, a voice echoed through the chaos.

The administrator, seemingly recovered from the initial onslaught, emerged from the crowd.

"Follow me!" the administrator called out, leading the way with an urgency matching Lianna’s own. The trio moved together, heading toward what looked like underground exits.

The underground passages offered a brief respite from the chaos above.

Dimly lit corridors stretched out before them as they hastened their pace. The administrator spoke with urgency.

"You’re looking for the president, aren’t you?"

"Uh, y-yeah," Lianna replied. "We figured she’s the main target."

"Good thinking. I believe I saw the president heading this way. We need to ensure her safety before we do anything else. Can you help me with that?"

"We will do our best," Enverna responded.

"That is all I could ask for."

As they ventured deeper into the dimly lit passages, Lianna couldn’t shake the feeling that even with the administrator here, things could still go wrong.

Suddenly, the trio rounded a corner and stumbled upon a surprising sight. The president, flanked by a pair of guards, hurriedly made her way through the underground passages. Her face bore a mix of relief and distress as she saw the administrator appear.

She recognized her.

"Oh, it’s you. Thank goodness."

"Mrs. President!" the administrator called out. "This is Lianna and this is Enverna. They’re my new rookies. We’re here to ensure your safety. Where do you want to go?"

"Seventh Street," President Aria replied. "Lead the way."

"On it."

As they pressed forward, Lianna remained vigilant, her instincts on high alert. The sense of danger lingered, an invisible threat permeating the air.

Then, at a crossroads, they encountered an unexpected figure. A hooded figure, garbed in dark attire, stood in their path.

Lianna instantly used {Target Analysis}.

Two things happened.

Once more, the ability leveled up.

Target Analysis - Level 5

{Allows the user to see the Statuses of other living beings. Analyzed Spells have no effect on the user. Magic-dispelling effects do not prevent Target Analysis from working.}

And, second, Lianna saw the man’s status.

Nareem Lir

MP: 300/300

STR: C-

END: D+

DEX: B+

MYS: B-

L: D

---

Traits:

Merchant’s Intuition

{Can read others’ minds. Additionally, as the Merchant’s chosen follower, you gain a significant boost to persuasion.}

---

Instinct:

Calculated Strike - Level 2

{Exploit openings with calculated strikes. Each successful strike in a row, without missing, increases the chance of landing critical hits.}

Active Effects:

{Cloned}

---

Lianna’s eyes widened.

The president reacted quickly.

"Guards! Anti-magic aura. Form a line!"

They did as they were told.

[He’s the Merchant’s follower!? And, with those stats and that Trait...]

"Oh?" Nareem pulled his hood back. "You can see people’s statuses? Well, keeping my identity hidden is pointless then, isn’t it?"

Lianna put her hands to her mouth as though that would keep him from hearing her.

"Stay back," the administrator warned, stepping between the group and the mysterious figure. "You’re outnumbered and outmatched. You can’t win this fight."

"Ordinarily, you’d be right. But, these aren’t ordinary circumstances," Nareem replied.

"Ma’am," Lianna addressed the administrator. "His Dexterity is B+. He’s probably very, very fast. Be careful."

"Thank you for letting me know," the administrator replied.

"That information won’t be of much use to you, unfortunately. Don’t worry, we won’t be having some long, drawn-out battle. I just-"

The administrator appeared in front of him in a flash.

A short sword she produced went straight through his chest.

The man spat out blood all over her. The administrator didn’t even blink.

Lianna, Enverna, and everyone behind them were in shock.

The man didn’t even blink.

"... Quite rude," he said, the blade still inside of him. "If I’d come here completely unprepared, I would have died. Horrible. Awful. But, unfortunately," his eyes landed on Lianna. "That nifty trick of yours doesn’t let you see Inventories, does it?"

Then, the man dissolved into ashes.

"AGH!"

Lianna’s heart almost stopped.

She turned around.

Her eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat.

President Aria, who was standing behind her guards, had a knife sticking out of her chest.

An invisible figure said:

"Sorry, but I made a deal that I’d kill her if that amulet failed. And, I always keep my promises!"

Without hesitation, the administrator once again appeared near the source of the voice.

But, with a flash of sapphire blue, the man used some sort of teleportation item, disappearing right before their eyes.

He was gone.

Lianna’s eyes widened in horror as her quest notification flashed before her eyes.

{Quest Failed: Prevent the assassination of President Aria}

---

A day had passed since the chaotic events at the stadium.

Lianna found herself alone in her dorm room, the silence magnifying the weight of the recent failure. Enverna had gone out to train, seeking solace in the familiar routine. Lianna, on the other hand, sat on her bed, staring at the news on her holographic screen.

The headlines were filled with the aftermath of the incident.

Reports of the president’s assassination and the subsequent failure to apprehend the assailant dominated the news cycle.

Lianna felt a knot in her stomach, a heavy burden of guilt weighing her down. The sense of responsibility for the failed quest gnawed at her.

She couldn’t shake off the image of that man, Nareem Lir, the Merchant’s follower, swiftly executing his plan. The moment played over and over in her mind, a relentless loop of failure.

As she watched the news, someone knocked on the front door, breaking the solitude. Lianna hesitated for a moment, glancing at the door before getting up to answer.

She opened it to find the administrator standing there.

"Good morning," the administrator said gently, "mind if I come in?"

Lianna stepped aside, allowing her to enter. The air seemed thick with unspoken words. The administrator took a seat, and Lianna followed suit.

"How are you holding up?" the administrator asked, her tone filled with genuine concern.

Lianna sighed, her gaze still fixed on the news.

"I... I don’t know," she sighed. "I get that there’s not a whole lot more we could have done, but... Yeah."

The administrator nodded, understanding the weight of the situation.

"It was a tough situation. Without knowing what tools he was working with, we couldn’t have predicted what he’d do."

"What did he even use? How did he pull that off?"

"A cloning elixir and an invisibility potion, followed by a teleportation item he activated," the administrator stated. "Extremely valuable, extremely rare tools. That’s why the guards’ anti-magic didn’t do anything. All the magic was already in effect by the time we saw him."

"... I wish I could have stopped it."

"So do I. So do I..."

The administrator placed a reassuring hand on Lianna’s shoulder.

"Anyway, how about we go have some breakfast? We have a lot to talk about."

"Uh, what do you mean?"

"My name, for one."

Lianna blinked.

"But... We didn’t win anything. Zura got first place for the Combat tourney and I lost the Support tourney."

"I don’t care," the administrator shrugged. "That was just an incentive for you to do your best. I was planning on telling you my name after the assessment anyway."

"Oh."

"So..." the administrator stuck a hand out. "It’s time I formally introduce myself. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lianna," the administrator said, her tone serious. "My name is Cynthia Taylor."